Method and means for making a splint

ABSTRACT

The means for making a splint includes a sheet member having opposite faces and being adapted for folding into two flaps. The flaps embrace the limb therebetween and include marginal portions which are free from engagement with the limb when the limb is between the flaps. The marginal portions are in face-to-face relation when the limb is between the flaps and an adhesive substance is on the flap portions. The adhesive substance is adapted to secure the flaps in face-to-face engagement when the flaps are manually pressed together. The method for splinting an injured limb includes positioning two flaps on opposite sides of the injured limb and pressing the flaps together into engagement around the limb at a plurality of points so that the adhesive substance on the flaps will secure the flaps together and cause them to confine the limb and hold the limb against flexing movement.

Aug. 7, 1973 METHOD AND MEANS FOR MAKING A SPLINT [75] Inventor: LouisF. Muller, Playa Del Rey,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Medical Enterprises, Inc., Des

Moines, Iowa [22] Filed: Aug. 23, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 173,865

[52] US. Cl. 128/89.R, 128/87 R [51] Int. Cl. A6li 5/04 [58] Field ofSearch 128/89 R, 87 R, 87 A, 128/93, 83, 88

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,667,868 2/1954 Smyth128/87 R 3,232,289 2/1966 Zimmerman 128/87 R 3,496,934 2/1970 Anderson128/93 3,624,745 11/1971 Bowers 128/93 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS284,740 8/1914 Germany 128/89 R Primary ExaminerRichard A. GaudetAssistant Examiner-J. Yasko Attorney-Zarley, McKee & Thomte [57]ABSTRACT The means for making a splint includes a sheet member havingopposite faces and being adapted for folding into two flaps. The flapsembrace the limb therebetween and include marginal portions which arefree from engagement with the limb when the limb is between the flaps.The marginal portions are in face-toface relation when the limb isbetween the flaps and an adhesive substance is on the flap portions. Theadhesive substance is adapted to secure the flaps in face-tofaceengagement when the flaps are manually pressed together.

The method for splinting an injured limb includes positioning two flapson opposite sides of the injured limb and pressing the flaps togetherinto engagement around the limb at a plurality of points so that theadhesive substance on the flaps will secure the flaps together and causethem to confine the limb and hold the limb against flexing movement.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures HHIIIHIIHI METHOD AND MEANS FOR MAKING ASPLINT This invention relates to a method and means for making a splint.

Presently known splinting devices are not capable of splinting a limb ina flexed position. Some splints include elongated rigid members such assticks or metal rods, and require that the limb be straightened beforeit is splinted. Inflatable splints have been provided, but these splintsalso require the limb to be straightened be fore applying the splint.

Often a splint must be applied under emergency circumstances and insituations where qualified physicians are not present. Thus it is oftennecessary for unqualified personnel to straighten a limb before applyinga splint. Such straightening by unqualified personnel could result inserious injury to the injured person.

The present invention permits the splinting of an injured limb inwhatever natural flexed position the limb happens to be in at the timeof the injury. The splint merely holds the limb in the position itassumed at the time of the injury and maintains the limb in thisposition until the injured person can be transported to medicalfacilities. I

Therefore a principal object of the present invention is the provisionof a method and means for making a splint wherein the limb maybesplinted in any flexed articulated position without requiringstraightening of the limb.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a meansfor making a splint which is disposable.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a meansfor making a splint which is easy to apply and can be applied by laymenunder emergency situations.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a methodand means for splinting a limb which is articulated in any of a varietyof positions.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a methodand means for splinting a limb' wherein the limb can be splinted withoutany manipulation thereof.

Afurther object of the present invention is the provision of a means forsplinting a limb which is X-ray translucent, and which does not have tobe removed to take X-rays of the injured limb.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a methodand means for making a splint which places a minimum of weight on theinjured limb after the splint is applied.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a meansfor making a splint which is easily foldable and easy to carry so thatit will be available for first aid use in emergency situations.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a meansfor making a splint which is inexpensive to manufacture and whichprovides sturdy reinforcement for an injured limb.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a meansfor making a splint which can be applied to any injured limb, whether itbe an arm or a leg or any portion thereof.

These and other objects will be obvious to thos skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction arrangements and combinationof the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed outin the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view illustrating the first step during theapplication of the splint to a persons arm;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the second step in theapplication of the splint to an injured persons arm;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a further step in theapplication of the splint to an injured persons arm;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational view illustrating the application of the splintof the present invention to an injured persons arm when the arm is in anunflexed position.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a meansfor making a splint. Means 10 is formed from a rectangular sheet member12 which is made of paper or cardboard and which includes a first paperor cardboard sheet 14 and a second cardboard or paper sheet 16. Whilecardboard or paper are the preferred materials to be used for sheets 14and 16, other materials-may also be used which are flexible and whichare easily folded. Sheet 16 is formed into a undulating or corrugatedshape having a plurality of undulations 18 therein which lendreinforcement to sheet member 12, and which hold sheet member 12 againstfolding in a direction transverse to the direction in .which thecorrugations extend. Sheets 14 and 16 are joined together to form adouble layer such as conventionally found in cardboard materials. Theparticular configuration of sheet members 14 and 16 may be variedwithout detracting from the present invention. For example, instead ofusing corrugations to provide reinforcement of sheet member 12, aplurality of longitudinally extending reinforcing members could beincorporated into sheet member 12 to prevent its folding in onedirection while at the same time permitting it to be folded in adirection transverse thereto. An adhesive substance 20 is provided onthe outwardly disposed surface of sheet 16. Adhesive substance 20 ispreferably of the type which will adhere to other surfaces upon pressurecontact, but other types of adhesives may be used also. The particulartype of adhesive is not critical to the present invention, and any of anumber of presently available adhesives may be used.

The first step in applying the splint is illustrated in FIG. 1. Sheetmember 10 is placed along one side of an injured limb, such as arm 22.The sheet member may be placed alongside the arm without bending orflexing the arm in anyway, thereby minimizing the danger of furtherinjuring the arm.

Referring to FIG. 3, the next step in making'the splint includes foldingsheet member 12 into two flaps 24 and 26 so that flaps 24, 26 embracearm 22 therebetween. Sheet member 22 is folded so that sheet 16 withadhesive 20 thereon is presented inwardly toward arm 22. When sheetmember 12 isfolded in this fashion a juncture or fold 28 is formedbetween flaps 24, 26 and is positioned in spaced relationship to arm 22.

The corrugated surfaces of sheet members 16 are then pressed togetherfirmly at the top margins thereof. The adhesive 20 on sheets 16 causesflaps 24 and 26 to be joined together in response to the pressing orpinching of the two flaps 24, 26 against one another.

Referring to FIG. 4, the pressing of flaps 24, 26 against one another iscontinued until they are joined completely around the marginssurrounding arm 22. They are pressed together closely adjacent arm 22 sothat arm 22 is encased within a confined area 30 (FIG. 5). Arm 22 isfirmly secured within area 30 and is embraced on all sides by flaps 24,26.'The corrugations of sheet 16 are pressed together around the marginsof arm 22 and are held in securement by adhesive 20. Prior to applyingsheet member 12 to arm 22, sheet member 12 is easily foldable along aline parallel to the direction of the corrugations in sheets 16.However, after sheet member 12 is folded and applied as shown in FIGS. 4and 5, it provides a rigid encasement for arm 22 and resists folding inall directions. The double thickness which is formed by folding andjoining flaps 24, 26, and the bulged deformations 32, 34 surrounding arm22, lend additional reinforcement so as to prevent folding of thecompleted splint in any direction.

Once the splint has been applied in a manner described above, thepatient may be transported to medical facilities where the arm may beX-rayed without removing the splint. Thus, the splint can be applied tothe arm without manipulating or flexing the arm from its originalinjured position, and the splint will maintain this arm in the sameunmoved position until after X- rays have been taken and the extent ofthe injury has been fully diagnosed.

When the proper treatment has been determined, the splint may be removedeasily by scissors or other cutting instruments, and may be disposed ofin a wastebasket. The fact that the splint is made of paper-or cardboardmakesit highly translucent to X-ray. The splint is considerably lighterthan conventional splints utilizing wood or other reinforcing members,and is also lighter than many inflatable splints. Furthermore itsdisposable nature makes it far more convenient than these other devices.Its light weight causes a minimum of strain to be applied to the limbduring the transportation of the victim from the place of the injury toadequate medical facilities. Heavier splints such as wood reinforcedones, could cause a considerable'amount of pain, if not additionalinjury as a result of their added weight to the injured persons limb.The fact that sheet member 12 is originally in a flat shape makes itreadily conducive to easy storage and carrying.

Referring to FIG. 6, an injured persons arm 36 is shown encased within asplint 38 identical to the splint shown in FIGS. 1 5. From this it canbe seen that the splint of the present invention is easily applicable toan injured persons limb regardless of the position or the extent ofarticulation of the limb.

While the splint shown in the drawings is formed by folding a singlesheet member into two flaps 24, 26, a satisfactory splint could also beprovided by merely placing two sheet members 12 in face-to-face relationon opposite sides of arm 22 and pressing them together in the samefashion that flaps'24, 26 are shown pressed together in FIG. 4.

Thus it can be seen that the method and means of the present inventionaccomplish at least all of the stated objectives.

I claim:

1. A splint for an injured person's limb comprising:

a pair of sheet members having opposite faces adapted to embrace saidlimb therebetween, said sheet members being sufficiently large to be incovering relationship to said limb when said limb is in 7 an articulatedposition;

said sheet members being corrugated and having corrugations extendinglongitudinally in one direction; said sheet members being constructed ofmaterial which is sufficiently flexible to permit bending thereof in adirection transverse to said longitudinal direction of said corrugationswhereby said sheet members can be bent into facing engagement with oneanother around the margins of said limb when said limb is in anarticulated position; and

an adhesive substance on said sheet members for causing said sheetmembers to adhere to one another when pressed together around said limb,whereby said sheet members will surround and support said limb when saidlimb is in an articulated position.

2. A splint according to claim I wherein said corrugations are exposedon the facing sides of said sheet members thereby imparting a corrugatedtexture to said facing sides for enhancing the adhesion therebetweenwhen pressed together;

3. A splint according to claim 1 wherein said sheet member is made of anX-ray translucent material.

4. A splint according to claim 3 .wherein said sheet member is made ofpaper and is comprised of a first paperv sheet and a second paper sheet,at least one of said paper sheets being corrugated; said first andsecond sheets being joined together in face-to-face relationship.

S. A method for splinting an injured limb comprising:

positioning two corrugated sheet members having an adhesive substancethereon on opposite sides of an injured limb; maintaining said limb inthe original articulated position which it retained at the time ofinjury;

pressing said flaps together into engagement with one another at aplurality of points around said limb while said limb is in said originalposition whereby said adhesive substance will cause said sheet membersto adhere to one another at said points where said flaps are pressedtogether thereby causing said sheet members to encase said articulatedlimb and lend support thereto.

6. A method according to claim 5 comprising taking an X-ray photographof said limb while said limb is in said splint and while said splintholds said limb in said original position.

1. A splint for an injured person''s limb comprising: a pair of sheetmembers having opposite faces adapted to embrace said limb therebetween,said sheet members being sufficiently large to be in coveringrelationship to said limb when said limb is in an articulated position;said sheet members being corrugated and having corrugations extendinglongitudinally in one direction; said sheet members being constructed ofmaterial which is sufficiently flexible to permit bending thereof in adirection transverse to said longitudinal direction of said corrugationswhereby said sheet members can be bent into facing engagement With oneanother around the margins of said limb when said limb is in anarticulated position; and an adhesive substance on said sheet membersfor causing said sheet members to adhere to one another when pressedtogether around said limb, whereby said sheet members will surround andsupport said limb when said limb is in an articulated position.
 2. Asplint according to claim 1 wherein said corrugations are exposed on thefacing sides of said sheet members thereby imparting a corrugatedtexture to said facing sides for enhancing the adhesion therebetweenwhen pressed together.
 3. A splint according to claim 1 wherein saidsheet member is made of an X-ray translucent material.
 4. A splintaccording to claim 3 wherein said sheet member is made of paper and iscomprised of a first paper sheet and a second paper sheet, at least oneof said paper sheets being corrugated; said first and second sheetsbeing joined together in face-to-face relationship.
 5. A method forsplinting an injured limb comprising: positioning two corrugated sheetmembers having an adhesive substance thereon on opposite sides of aninjured limb; maintaining said limb in the original articulated positionwhich it retained at the time of injury; pressing said flaps togetherinto engagement with one another at a plurality of points around saidlimb while said limb is in said original position whereby said adhesivesubstance will cause said sheet members to adhere to one another at saidpoints where said flaps are pressed together thereby causing said sheetmembers to encase said articulated limb and lend support thereto.
 6. Amethod according to claim 5 comprising taking an X-ray photograph ofsaid limb while said limb is in said splint and while said splint holdssaid limb in said original position.